Approximately (according to my informal estimate) 10% of the people who attended the anti-war rally in San Francisco on September 24, 2005 were Communists -- including the event's main organizers, A.N.S.W.E.R. (according to Wikipedia, "Many of A.N.S.W.E.R.'s leaders were members of Workers World Party at the time of A.N.S.W.E.R.'s founding, and are current members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, a Marxist-Leninist organization"). A.N.S.W.E.R. brought in a lot of the faithful, and they were joined by the Bob Avakian crew (the Revolutionary Communist Party, a Maoist group), pro-Castro activists, a North Korean contingent seeking to absorb South Korea into the Communist state, and the usual mishmash of Marxists, Trotskyites, Stalinists and the rest.

In fact, a cursory inspection may have suggested at first that they comprised much more than just 10% of the crowd, but they're simply good at making themselves noticed. The brightest banners, the loudest chants, the most disciplined marching groups, and (importantly) the most mass-produced protest signs, which were distributed to passersby (including yours truly) who forgot to bring their own signs.

The other 90% of the participants either didn't realize that they were marching at a Communist-sponsored rally, or didn't care. Or (most likely) they did notice, and thought it was cool.

Here's a small sampling of photos.

These signs were everywhere, promoting A.N.S.W.E.R.'s new political party.

The new Mount Rushmore?

Oh yeah, the Bolsheviks -- I forgot about them. Silly me!

The North Korean supporters make an impressive appearance at every rally.

I'll call your Mumia and raise you two Ches.

Yadda yadda yadda. Next!

A.N.S.W.E.R.'s registration table, where the speakers signed in.

A.N.S.W.E.R. leading the front of the march.

A.N.S.W.E.R. members all wore their trademark neon green reflective vests. The looked more like a party of crosswalk school guards than revolutionary shock troops.